Primaries May Threaten California's 'Governing Regime'

There are primaries in six states today, and many pundits expect voters in California's biggest liberal strongholds to “rebuke the left,” per NBC News, mainly over rising crime and homelessness.

• Los Angeles: Billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso wants to be mayor of Los Angeles. The longtime Republican-donor-turned-Democrat bills himself as a “doer” and promises to clean up the city, starting with 1,500 new police officers. Six-term Rep. Karen Bass, a Democratic stalwart, is also vying for the job. There are 12 candidates on the primary ballot, but polls suggest Bass and Caruso will square off in November. Under California’s primary system, the top two vote-getters go to the November ballot, regardless of party.

• San Francisco: The city's progressive district attorney, Chesa Boudin, faces a recall election, as shoplifting and violent crime have soared under his reformist approach. Per SF Gate, polls are stacked against him, with 48% planning to vote “yes” and 14% undecided.
• Bigger picture: Overall, CNN predicts a “political earthquake” in California that could reverberate across the country. “Voters and residents are feeling that the governing regime, the liberal Democratic regime that has dominated [LA and California] for the last 30 years … is not meeting the moment,” political scientist Fernando Guerra told CNN.

• Attorney general: A statewide attorney general race features incumbent Rob Bonta, several Republicans, and an independent: Sacramento DA Anne Marie Schubert. She’s popular with moderates from both parties; however, as Adam Lashinsky argues in a Washington Post opinion piece, this race shows why California’s primary system is unfair: with major party machines working against them, independents like Schubert have almost no chance of reaching the November ballot.
• Congress: In other California races, Democrats have some opportunities to gain House seats, per the New York Times. After nonpartisan redistricting, Democrats are competitive in four current Republican districts, plus a new seat in the 13th; however, a couple Democratic seats are in jeopardy, including the 45th, just south of LA, which is currently held by rising star Katie Porter.
• Elsewhere: What else to watch across the country in the day's primaries? See guides at Politico and the AP.

(More California primary stories.)